Garment hanger



- H. W. LIGON GARMENT HANGER May 16, 1939.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 15, 1938 FIG;

May 16, 1939. H. w. LIGON 2,158,465

, GARMENT HANGER Filed April 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIlilD- as I Patented May 1 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers and has for its object to provide a hanger which is simple in parts, less costly to manufacture, and more efiicient in use than those heretofore proposed.

With these and. other objects in view the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a foreshortened side elevational view of a hanger made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a detail of construction as where the cross bar joins a side' arm of the hanger;

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevational view of one of the lower corners of the hanger shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the other lower corner of said hanger;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view takenas on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken as on the line @t of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 7 is a view mostly in vertical section taken through the longitudinal center of a hanger similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but modified in the construction of the cross bar;

Fig. 8 isa transverse sectional view taken as on the line tof Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9 is a view somewhat similar to Figs. 1 and 7 but illustrating a modified form of the hanger;

Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic representations of two modifications of building up a laminated structure for such a hanger.

Fig, 12 is a detail transverse sectional view partly in perspective illustrating the construction of a cross bar constituting a modification of that shown in Fig. 9;

Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic representations of two additional modifications of assembling the arms and the cross bar of a hanger made in accordance with this invention.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a garment hanger which can'be made cheaply and which will not injure the garments as byrust, corrosion, or splinters. To this end the hanger is made principally of heavy paper, fiber board or cardboard either in single layers of the elements of the hanger, a plurality of 0 similar hangers in knock-down form may be nested one'within another to still further conserve space. To accomplish this, one end of the cross bar is integral but hingedly connected with one end of a side arm of the hanger as seen in Figs. I:

4 and 7, the opposite end of the cross bar having slip connection with a pocket in the other side arm of the hanger as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the upper connection between the two side arms being integral but yieldable or bendable as indicated in Figs. 1 and '7. On the other; hand, as seen in Fig. 9, the cross bar may have both of its ends integrally but hingedly connected with the side arms of the hanger, and said side arms may be separated from each other at their upper ends, with said upper ends overlapped and secured by a hook element passing through registering slots therein.

Where two or more layers of paper or cardboard are used to build up a laminated structure, said layers may. be blued, cemented, or otherwise adhesively secured together, or they may be stapled or stitched together along their edges and/or along their longitudinal center line, adhesion being preferred in that the cementitious substance upon solidification will hold the layers together in their preformed semicircular transverse shape. Many and well known adhesives are suitable wherefore it is thought unnecessary to name them but as specific examples glue,

shellac, resinous compoundsetc. are mentioned and, if desiredjthe fiberboard may be treated to resist moisture or dampness or other climatic and/or temperature changes, and may be surface treated (as by coating) to provide protection from frictional contact with garments. It is preferred to have the grain of the fiber sheet run longitudinally of the arms and the cross bar to facilitate forming said arms and bar into the curved semicircular shape, (and retaining such formation), and when the laminations are adhered particularly with shellac and placed in a former to dry, and harden, it will be found that increased strength results from such formation and securement.

Referring to the drawings, in Figs. 1 to 6 there is shown the construction of a garment hanger made in accordance with this invention and comprising one or more layers of suitable sheet material preformed into substantially semicircular cross section and composed, as illustrated in Fig. 6, of the two layers 2 and 3 united by a film of adhesive 4. This semicircular shape is given to each of the arms 5 and 6 as well as to the cross bar I. In forming this particular garment hanger a single strip of the sheet material is utilized, one end thereof being folded under as indicated at 8 and edge-secured to the arm portion 5 as by the staples 9 to form a pocket In between the bent under portion 8 and the main body portion of the arm, see Fig. 2. The strip is then bent as at H to form the integrally joined arms 5 and 6, and at this yieldable bend there is provided a slot l2 centrally of the arms and through which the hook [3 may be passed. The arm 6 is made of a length equal to that of the arm 5 and has the cross bar I as an integral extension. thereof, the strip material folded under as indicated at Hi, such folded portion being tightly clamped as by the staples l5. In order to permit the cross bar to have its intended angularity with the arm 5, notches it are cut in the side edges of said bar adjacent the fold id as will be readily understood, see Fig. l

4. The other end of the cross bar is provided with an axial tongue I! of a reduced width to permit said tongue to enter the pocket 10 but be frictionally engaged therewith betweenthe staples 9, see Fig. 3. s

The hook I3 is made separable from the hanger thus far described, and said hook may be iormed of material similar to that of which the hanger is constructed. Said hook has a base 20 of a shape to fit within the angle formed by the two arms 5 and 6, and where the hook portion joins the base portion there is provided a pair of teeth or projections 2| and 22 on opposite edges of the hook, said teeth adapted to overhang the ends of the slot l2 in order to retain the hook in place with respect to the hanger. As best seen in Fig. 1, the distance from the outer extremity of the tooth 2| to the outer extremity of the tooth 22 is made substantially equal to the length of the slot l2 wherefore the hook l3 with its teeth can be passed through said slot when the arms 5 and 6 are in coaxial alignment i. e. straight, but when said arms are bent at H to assume their intended angularity, then the chord distance between the extremities of said slot will be less than the straight length of the slot wherefore said extremities will be moved in under said teeth thereby locking the hook in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this connection it should be stated that the upper edges of the base 20 of said hook have the same angularity as intended for the arms 5 and 6. An opening 22 may be provided in said base portion through which ties, belts, or other similar articles may be passed for hanging.

The construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is generally similar to that above described and therefore like numerals appear therein, but there are two difierences, one residing in the bend between the two arms 5 and 6, and the other residing in the construction of the cross bar I. That is to say, instead of said bend being crimped or puckered as indicated at H in Fig. 1, the side edges are provided with a V notch which closes into the miter or slit 25 when the arms are brought into their intended angularity whereby a sharper bend is permitted.

The cross bar of any garment hanger often gives trouble due to the fact that its garmentcontacting surface is smooth and convex; in other words, unless trousers for example are balanced on the bar, slight movement will cause the trousers to slide or slip on the bar and possibly fall off. Therefore this invention contemplates a remedy for such a condition and to this end there is provided a plurality of tabs 26 and 21 projecting out of the plane of the convex trouserscontacting surface of the bar. Where the bar comprises a plurality of laminations as shown in Fig. 8, these tabs may readily be formed by punching a portion of the outermost layer prior to the formation of the laminated bar so that, when the layers are bent into their semicircular transverse shape, the tabs will flex outwardly and constitute projections engaging the material of the trousers when placed thereover, it being understood that said tabs will not be adhered nor cemented to the underlying lamination. Each tab is somewhat circular as indicated in Fig. 7, but the edges of the tab are left rectangular to engage and hold the trousers from slipping thereover. The weight oi the trousers will have a tendency to press said tabs back into the plane of the-cross bar, but there will be sufficient inherent resistance thereto to cause the edge of the tabs to be effective for the purpose desired.

Referring to Fig. 9 there is shown a modification of the hanger wherein the cross bar is of double thickness as compared to the thickness of each of the arms. This is made possible by forming the hanger from two separate strips of material, one strip fashioned into the arm 30 and the lower lamination M of the cross bar,

and the other strip fashioned into the arm 32 and the upper lamination 33 of said bar. In other words, after similarly fashioning both strips, said strips are assembled, the lower lamination 3i fitting into the upper lamination 33 and centrally stapled thereto as at 34 to provide the laminated cross bar 35. Each of the free ends of said strips is provided with a slot centrally thereof, the two slots adapted to register when the two strip ends are overlapped, thereby permitting the hook l3 to be passed through both slots and thus secure the two strips together as a garment hanger. For this construction, each slot is made of a dimension substantially equal to the distance between the pair of teeth 2| and 22 of the hook, but the upper edges of the base portion 20 of said hook are given an angularity greater than the intended angularity between the arms 30 and 32 wherefore, as distinctly shown in Fig. 9, it will be seen that the lower corners of said base portion contact the concave under surfaces of said arms and exert a pressure thereagalnst which causes the slot of arm 32 to move in under the tooth 2! while simultaneously causing the slot of arm 30 to move in under the tooth 22. Hence it matters not how the ends of the two arms are overlapped since one arm will always hold the other arm and be locked by one of the'two teeth of the hook l3.

Whether the tabs such as 28 and 21 are provided or not, it will be observed that in all modifications of this invention the cross bar has a reduced width at its juncture with the side arms, and this reduced width of the bar permits a slight rocking or pivotal oscillation of the edges of the bar. Hence, when a garment is unbalanced on said bar and has a tendency to slide thereof!,

the movement of the garment will rock said bar and cause an edge thereof to counteract such I sliding movement.

having tongue In Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatically shown two modifications of the formation of the semi circular arms and cross bar, Fig. 13 showing the arms 55 and 56 as a separable unit from the cross bar 51, the latter having angularly bent ends adapted to be either stapled to the arms and/or and pocket connection therewith. Fig. 14 is a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 9 and provides a single strip of material with its ends overlapped at the top of the hanger where the hook passes through; the cross bar 58 may be a single layer of the material or composed of laminations. In Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatically illustrated the formation of a laminated structure from a single sheet of material. In other words, a single sheet may be folded sidewise to create a double thickness in the resultant structure, the

' edges of the original sheet registering in a side edge of the resultant structure as shown in Fig. 10, or abutting substantially centrally of the resultant structure as shown in Fig. 11. layers or laminations may be stapled or adhered together as desired.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention and therefore it is desired not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be demanded by the claims.

' substantially semicircular transverse cross-section; the cross bar having integral hinged relation with one of said arms and a tongue and pocket connection with the other of said arms; and said hook passing through the juncture of said arms.

3. A garment hanger formed from sheet material and comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a hook; the arms and the cross bar having a substantially semicircular transverse cross-section; one of said arms having a. pocket in one end thereof; the cross bar having a tongue at one end thereof engageable with the pocket of the one of said arms, the other end of said cross bar having integral hinged relation with the other of said arms; and said hook passing through the juncture of said arms.

4. A garment hanger formed from sheet material and comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a hook; the arms and the cross bar having a substantially semicircular transverse cross-section; the cross bar having integral hinged relation with one of said arms, and a slip connection with the other of said arms, both ends of said cross bar having a reduced width providing for axial pivotal movement of the bar when a garrnent thereon attempts to slip thereover; and said hook passing through the juncture of said arms.

5. A. garment hanger comprising two arms, a

The

cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the cross bar having hinged relation with one of said arms, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

6. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the cross bar having hinged relation with one of said arms and a slip connection with the other of said arms, the hook havingv a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

7. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the armshaving a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the cross bar having a .slip connection with one ofsaid arms, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting abase disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

8. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the cross bar having a tongue and pocket connection with one of said arms, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

9. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, one of said arms having a pocket, the cross bar having a tongue at one end thereof engageable with the pocket of the one of said arms, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in, supporting relation thereto.

10. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a I

hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppos'itely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appre-' ciably under each arm in supporting relatio thereto. I

' 11. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the cross bar having a slip connection with one of said arms, both ends of said cross bar having a reduced width providing for axial pivotal movement of the bar when a garment thereon attempts to slip thereover, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms and having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

12. A foldable garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape providing in each an underlying recess in the upper extremity thereof, the arms integrally but yieldably connected together at their juncture, the cross bar having hinged relation with one of said arms and. adapted thereby to nest within such arm when folded, the hook having a portion extending through the juncture of said arms when the hanger is unfolded for use, said hook having other oppositely directed portions constituting a base disposed within said recesses and extending appreciably under each arm in supporting relation thereto.

13. A garment hanger comprising two arms, a cross bar, and a removable hook formed from sheet material, the arms having a substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape HARRY W. LIGON. 

